Nine-man Bermuda Suffer Late Collapse against Guadeloupe
IslandStats.com
Bermuda 1 Guadeloupe 2
Guadeloupe struck twice in the closing minutes to condemn nine-man Bermuda to a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat in an ill-tempered Concacaf Nations League encounter at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Saint Lucia.
Bermuda Starting Line-Up: Milai Perott, Deniche Hill, Harry Twite, Lejuan Simmons, Jorj Dublin, Ne-Jai Tucker, Luke Robinson (Zeiko Lewis 46th), Djair Parfitt (Blayz Borgesson 63rd), Sincere Hall (Justin Donawa 63rd) , Ajani Burchall (London Steede-Jackson 70th), Enrique Russell (Diego Richardson 86th) - Substitutes: - Jahquil Hill, Coleridge Fubler, Emeer Peets, Brighton Morrison, Elisha Darrell, Riley Robinson, Caleb McDowall, - Guadeloupe Starting Line-Up: - D. Rouyard, F. Geran (M. Alphonse 66th), K. Montantin, Y. Raddas, S. Darase, T. Davillars (K. Giblaca 46th), D. Boisné, W. Francillonne, J. Gamby (D. Capraja 59th), A. Plumain, T. Arconte - Substitutes: - A. Silo, M. Philemon, M. Citronnelle, A. Vulgaire, M. Cysique, W. Jacques, H. Dezac, L. Mausse
Bermuda appeared on course for a gritty League B, Group B victory after Enrique Russell converted an 18th-minute penalty, having seen Ajani Burchall brought down clumsily inside the box.
Bermuda defended resolutely to protect their lead through to the interval, but the match unraveled in a dramatic second half defined by dismissals and goalkeeping errors.
The turning point arrived in the 64th minute when Jorj Dublin was shown a straight red card for a reckless high tackle, leaving Bermuda with an uphill battle to protect their slender advantage.
Despite wholesale defensive alterations from the bench, the pressure eventually told six minutes from time. Goalkeeper Milai Perott failed to turn a stinging drive behind for a corner, allowing substitute Allan Vulgaire to react sharpest and bundle home the 84th-minute equalizer.
Four minutes later, heartbreak turned to despair for Bermuda. Perott was unable to gather a testing cross into the area, spilling the ball directly into the path of Djamalee Boisné, who gleefully steered in the 88th-minute winner.
A frantic finale saw Bermuda’s frustrations boil over. Six minutes into stoppage time, Lejuan Simmons received a second yellow card, leaving his side to finish the match with nine men as Guadeloupe held on to snatch all three points.
Friday, September 25, 2026
Nusum Proud of Bermuda's Display Despite 'hard to take' Defeat
IslandStats.com
Bermuda head coach John Barry Nusum expressed immense pride in his squad’s application and tactical discipline despite suffering a stinging 2-1 defeat to Guadeloupe in Saint Lucia.
Speaking post-match to Islandstats.com, Nusum reflected on an encounter where Bermuda dictated the tempo for long stretches before being reduced to 10 men and conceding two late goals.
Addressing the absence of key talisman Nahki Wells, Nusum clarified that travel logistics dictated the decision to leave him out of the matchday squad.
"His flight... the timing of his flight got in late, so we didn't want to put him in a position where he gets injured," Nusum explained. "He'll be ready for the next game, so it's all good."
Despite the heartbreak of leaving empty-handed after holding the lead, the head coach highlighted the execution and composure shown throughout the opening 45 minutes.
"It's hard to say after taking a 2-1 loss, but I was very proud of how the boys applied themselves tonight," Nusum said. "First half, I thought we commanded the first half. We dictated the speed, the tempo of the game. We were able to play around their press.
"There were a lot of things that we spoke about during the week that we wanted to apply, and I think the first half we showed it. They didn't have really too many chances—they had a couple of, I think, penalty shouts, but again that's their guys diving in the box that the ref waved off.
"We had a good spell of having possession, being able to play around them. We got a couple of opportunities that we probably should have finished to kill the game off in the first half. Right at half-time, right before the whistle, we had a header from Jair that the keeper saved on the line. So again, we were doing the right things, applying ourselves the right way."
The momentum shifted dramatically in the 64th minute when Jorj Dublin received a straight red card, leaving Bermuda to navigate the remainder of the contest shorthanded.
"When you get a red card in the second half, it shifts the momentum. It shifts the way we can play," Nusum noted. "I think that red card really hurt us and put them in a bit of ascendancy, having numbers on us.
"But if I'm being honest with you, I was very proud of the way the boys defended and applied themselves. We never really felt a threat for a good 20 minutes after the red card, as they were just trying to lump balls into the box, and our keeper was dealing with it and our defenders were dealing with it.
"Obviously, the two goals in that quick span is something that we've been talking about making sure we kill out of our game, and we can't afford that. But the boys worked tirelessly hard, so the fatigue then actually comes into play."
Nusum also singled out the performance of the team's younger contingent, who shouldered significant responsibility on the international stage.
"I'm very excited for these guys and where we're going to go in the future. We have some younger players behind them coming in as well, so I'm excited to have this new era coming in. They're excited, they're good players, they get on the ball, they're comfortable. They ticked a lot of the boxes that we're looking for out of our young players."
Nusum also praised debutant Blaiz Borgesson, who was handed a baptism of fire under difficult circumstances.
"We got a first cap for Blaiz Borgesson tonight. Unfortunately for him, his moment when he came on we were already down a man, so he had to do a lot of extra running and a lot of work. But again, he put his head down, did the work that we needed out of him in the moment, and all credit to him."
Thursday, September 24, 2026
Burnley prospect Borgesson earns maiden senior Bermuda call-up
IslandStats.com
Burnley academy winger Blayz Borgesson has received his first senior international call-up for Bermuda ahead of their upcoming Concacaf Nations League campaign.
The 18-year-old, who celebrated his birthday last week, has progressed through the island nation's youth ranks at under-15, under-17, and under-20 levels.
He now steps up to John Barry Nusum's senior squad for a demanding schedule of four fixtures across 11 days.
"It feels amazing," Borgesson said. "I'm obviously grateful, and I can't wait to try and make my friends, family, and everybody else proud.
"Playing for Bermuda U20s in February was a great experience, because I was playing against older, faster, and stronger boys.
"I'll be playing with some professional players like Nahki Wells, who plays in League One, who can teach me and hopefully I'll learn new stuff."
Born in Somerset Village, in Sandys Parish, Borgesson lived in Bermuda until the age of nine before spending three years in Spain. Following a brief return to his homeland, he relocated to England in 2023.
His trajectory accelerated after joining Radcliffe FC's academy in 2025 alongside his college studies, eventually securing a summer switch to Turf Moor.
The teenager has made an immediate impression in Lancashire, featuring as a substitute in every under-21 fixture this season while also making four appearances for Tony Philliskirk’s under-18 side—netting goals against both Leeds United and Liverpool.
Bermuda begin their Nations League slate on Friday against Guadeloupe at home, before travelling to face Saint Lucia. They conclude the international window with a double-header against Barbados.
Borgesson is one of five youth-team players across Burnley's under-21 and under-18 setups to earn international recognition this month.
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Concacaf Nations League Majors officiates in the Bahamas
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Bermudian FIFA-listed referee Amaury Majors was part of the officiating team in Nassau as Sint Maarten produced an emphatic display to dismantle the Bahamas 8-0 in international competition.
Majors, who continues to feature regularly on the international circuit across the region, carried out fourth official duties from the touchline on an evening dominated by the visitors' relentless attacking firepower.
The Bermudian official played a key role in managing technical areas and substitutions as Sint Maarten ran riot, leaving the host nation with no answers over the 90 minutes.
The visiting attack overwhelmed the Bahamian backline from the opening exchanges, establishing a commanding lead before turning the contest into a comprehensive rout.
The match represents another significant overseas assignment for Majors, continuing the presence of Bermudian officials on the FIFA list across senior regional tournaments.
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Bermuda Receive More Corresponsive from Infantino
IslandStats.com
Fifa president Gianni Infantino has proposed an independent external review into the governance of world football's governing body, insisting he remains open to structural reform.
The move follows intense scrutiny and a fierce backlash over the aborted Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) project, which would have seen commercial and ticketing rights for major tournaments — including the World Cup — partially offloaded to private investors.
In a letter addressed to members of the Fifa Council and all 211 national member associations, including the Bermuda Football Association, Infantino outlined plans for an outside review to "recommend potential improvements" in how the organisation operates.
Ahead of a key Fifa Council meeting scheduled for next month, Infantino also tabled a wide-ranging consultation process focused on "how Fifa's decision-making can be further strengthened".
The scope would look at the responsibilities tied to the role of the president, while identifying "practical ways to strengthen transparency, participation and accountability in major strategic initiatives".
The concessions arrive at a testing moment for Infantino's leadership following widespread opposition to the controversial FFE initiative.
Under that scheme, a newly created vehicle would have managed commercial and ticketing operations across all Fifa competitions, with a 21% stake being sold to an external private investment firm.
The blueprint triggered fierce resistance from regional confederations, culminating in Uefa and Concacaf demanding that Fifa distribute $10m to each of the 211 member associations directly from its existing cash reserves instead.
In what marks a conciliatory response to critics, Infantino wrote: "Over recent weeks, I have taken time to listen before writing to you," pledging to conduct formal consultations with confederations, member associations, and other key stakeholders.
Infantino was also keen to push back against accusations that Fifa was preparing to cede control over the sport, writing that the FFE venture "did not involve relinquishing Fifa's control or authority over sporting decisions. Obviously!"
He added: "The proposal entered the public domain before Fifa's planned institutional process had been completed and before it could be presented in full to the Council and the member associations.
"I recognise that, without the full context, this caused concern and created the impression that decisions had already been taken. They had not."
Defending his record, the 56-year-old maintained that governance principles had never been on the negotiating table.
"Democratic processes, independence and sporting authority were never for sale. They are not for sale and never will be," Infantino wrote, adding that he remains "fully committed to leading Fifa and confident in what we can achieve together."
